Health claims regulation and fortification regulation start to apply

2.7.2007

<div>The Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods (1924/2006) and the Regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods (1925/2006) start to apply in the EU as of 1 June 2007. The Regulations harmonise legislation and practices pertaining to nutrition and health claims and to fortification of foods within the EU.</div>

With the enforcement of the new Regulation, all nutrition and
health claims used in the marketing of food will be assessed at
Community level. As of the beginning of July, the new Regulation
will affect the use of nutrition claims and in some respects also
labelling, and certain references that could mislead consumers will
be banned. Nutrition declaration is in the future always mandatory
if any health claims are made about the product. The Regulation
describes the approved nutrition claims and the conditions for
their use. The first common positive list of health claims in the
EU, as well as the nutrition profiles, which the products need to
comply with to bear health claims, will be published later. The
purpose of the nutrition profiles is to limit the use of health
claims to nutritionally preferable foods. The Regulation allows
transition periods of varying lengths for existing products.

Regulation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of
certain other substances to foods– permit procedure
replaced by notification procedure

In Finland the procedure for placing fortified food products on
the market becomes easier as of the beginning of July. A permit is
no longer needed for placing a food product fortified with vitamins
and/or minerals on the market, but the food business operator only
needs to submit a notification to the Finnish Food Safety
Authority. The application of the Regulation also involves changes
in labelling. As of the beginning of July, nutrition declaration
indicating e.g. the amount of added vitamins and/or minerals is
compulsory in the labelling of fortified foods. No maximum amounts
for vitamins and minerals added in food have been defined as yet,
but will be published later. The Regulation allows transition
periods for existing products.